On 17 September, the LNA broadcast the televised ‘confessions’ of Ibrahim Muftah Abu Nuwwara, an imprisoned Ansar al-Sharia fighter from Ajdabiya, in which he confessed to ordering assassinations in Ajdabiya. This sparked reprisals with the houses of those involved, namely the Jadhran and Abu Nuwwara families, being burned down.

Islamist ‘hardliners’ such as Grand Mufti Sadeq al-Ghariani and Khalifa al-Ghwell have been quick to back Igtet over anti-GNA protests planned for 25 September, in Tripoli’s Martyrs’ Square. GNA-affiliates Haithem Tajouri and Hashem Bishr both denounced the planned demonstrations and threatened to suppress the protest.

The DMSC is experiencing significant local backlash after the alleged abduction, torture and killing of a pro- LNA Salafist resident of Derna on 4 September. On 11 September, a key figurehead of the hardliner Islamist faction, Sheikh Abdul Razzag Emshirib, was reportedly detained by Tripoli’s GNA-aligned Special Deterrence Force (Rada).

Misrata Counter Terrorism Unit arrested a senior member of the BDB, Ahmed Bakir, for alleged cooperation with ISIS and supplying foreign mercenaries to extremist groups. The CT unit also released a ‘confessions’ video of senior BRSC affiliate, Mohammed al-Khafifi, admitting membership in ISIS and claiming that his group had cooperated with the BDB in a number of suicide attacks

On 27 August, Serraj met with Sudanese president Bashir and they agreed to cooperate on security issues with a particular emphasis on fighting terrorism and border security. Misratan security forces arrested Usama Jadhran in Misrata for his alleged membership of Ansar al-Sharia and connections with ISIS.

The Justice and Construction party has turned on Tripoli’s Dar Al-Ifta head, Sheikh Sadek Ghariani after he pronounced that anyone who backed the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) was “non-believer”. The party declared that the sheikh’s denunciation of LPA supporters was “irresponsible” and that it would engender further bloodshed. The JC insists that the PC and the LPA were the only option for Libya.

On 13 August, a delegation of Misratan power brokers and senior BM figures travelled to Qatar to meet with Qatari officials. Media reports say Qatar is prepared to support the BM’s military operations in addition to logistical support. The conflict between the LNA and DMSC deescalated slightly as the LNA eased the full siege it enacted on Derna two weeks ago, but new airstrikes on DMSC positions in the west of the city indicate a potential for re-escalation.

In late July after the DMSC downed an LNA jet over Derna and alleged killed and mutilated its pilot Adel Jehani, triggering a tightening of the LNA siege on the city. Local sources report that the LNA’s Saiqa Special Forces have reportedly moved to Derna to join the LNA in preparation for a major assault on the city in conjunction with an internal uprising, targeting key DMSC leaders and military targets.

On 26 July, Libyan National Army (LNA) Special Operations forces posted photos of a captured Ansar al-Sharia senior leader, Ibrahim Abu Nawwara. Conflict in Derna between the LNA and DMSC escalated last week following LNA airstrikes against the DMSC. On 29 July, the DMSC shot down an LNA MiG-23 fighter jet, and apprehended both the pilot and the co-pilot. The LNA announced a return to full fledged siege, and shut down all routes into Derna in reprisal. The latest escalation is reportedly the result of a tightening military and social noose around the DMSC.

On 23 July, a new video was released of notorious LNA senior commander Mahmoud al-Werfalli directing the execution of 18 prisoners of war believed to belong to ISIS. The video followed a UN request for the LNA to investigate the summary executions of prisoners and other human rights issues. GNA PM Fayez Serraj condemned the fatwa against Ibadi Muslims that was issued by the Awqaf and is supported by the Islamic affairs authority affiliated with the Beida-based interim government.

Skirmishes between Pro-GNA and hardliner militias in Tripoli continued this week, ending as the GNA-aligned militias successfully ousted hardliner militias from their positions in eastern Tripoli. Pro-GNA militias reported the loss of 10 fighters in the three-day battle.

On 5 July, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar declared that the LNA had fully liberated Benghazi from the coalition of jihadists including the Benghazi Revolutionary BRSC, Ansar al-Sharia and ISIS. On 9 July, the HCF which belongs to the HoR parallel government in eastern Libya, issued a takfiri fatwa declaring that followers of Ibadism are infidels.

The remaining jihadists in Benghazi are now boxed into a 2 square kilometre area in Sabri, with a declaration of victory expected soon. However, more than 25 LNA fighters were killed during fighting in the last few days. In Tripoli, there are calls to establish a Tripoli Revolutionary Shura Council.

The BDB announced it will dissolve itself and that some members will enlist in the formation of a legitimate Libyan army. The Libyan National Army (LNA) fully retook the Souq al-Hout area and the main central square in Benghazi. The Grand Mufti, calls for hard-liner Islamist factions and revolutionaries to reassemble and save a ‘dying’ revolution.

On 13 June, the LNA fully seized Benghazi’s iconic Tahrir Square and the courthouse that faces it, while on 16 June, LNA squads announced their full takeover of Misrata Street and the Wahda Bank main office. At least 6 LNA fighters were killed and more injured during the operations. Most BRSC social media outlets also acknowledged setbacks last week.

A variety of Misratan entities united against the BDB last week, banning them from entering Misrata armed and demanding they surrender weapons and handover their leader. Werfalli published another execution video, while the LNA seized the Libya Shield base in Souq al-Hout.

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To monitor the expanding threat posed by the Islamic State's Libyan branch and other jihadi groups in Libya, Jason Pack founded EyeOnISISInLibya.com as a monitoring service detailing the group's history, its interactions with other jihadi actors, and Western actions towards the group. Our aim is to provide a valuable resource for governments, think-tanks, and businesses concerned with jihadi threats and their evolution in Libya.
EOIL is very pleased to be partnering with CRCM North Africa, who is a funding sponsor and with whom we have launched the identical mirror site, Libyan Jihad Monitor. EOIL is a New Jersey registered, 501c3 status non profit organization.